The Butler weekly times., 1887-02-09
MARRIED BY PROXY.
Miss Van Zandt Goes Through a Mock
Ceremony With Spies Brother.

'iieht Is made this evening that |
August Spies and Miss Van Zandt |
nave been married by proxy, the
groom being represented bv his |
brother. A suburban Justice OF the
peace officiated. When Sheriff Ma.
hon, about two weeks ago, issued |
the order to officials of the county
jail not to admit Miss Van Zandt
to see Spies, it was thought that the
matter was settled, but it now ap.
pears neither ofthe couple abandoned
their purpose. The law about mar
ry'ng bv letter and marriages bv
proxy was looked up, but not line
was found except IN regard to
marriage by proxy. This was finally
decided upon and Justice Engle-
hardt, IN the town of Jefferson, whose
name figured IN the papers during
the late months OF the past year as
denounclng the verdict of the an
archlst trial in public speeches, was
consulted. He gave it as his OPINION
that a marriage by proxy would be
binding in law If the proxy was made
Out IN due legal form. He was COM
mlssioned to draw up form of
proxy. The document was not got
ten ready until last Friday. Early
Saturday Miss Van Zandt and Gre
chen Spies, the sister of August,
went out to jefferson and called on
Justice Englehardt to get the proxy,
and. having secured the document,
went direct to the county jail with
ut. They met the wife OF Spies
brother Ferdinand and Mrs. Wen
die, and MISS Van Zandt's three
companions witnessed the signature
| of Spies to the document by which
he gave full authority to his brother,
Henry w. Spies, to represent him
him at the ceremony. Mrs. Ferdi-
} nand Spies and Miss Grechen Spie,
signed the paper to witness Angus
} Spies signature, when the whole
!, party except Spies himself went with
!, Ferdinand Spies to Justice Engle-
; hardt's office. They were reinforced
, on the way by Miss Van Zandt'
. parents and Henry and Chris Spies
. brothers OF August. The journey t
+ Justice Englehardt's office was mad
q on foot... 1t was after 3 O'Clock Sun
J. day morning by this time. The ,ustlc
It again examined his law books an,
= , the ceremony was performed. Henr
t. Spies answered to the name 9
u August Theodore Vincent Spies an
Il under this name was married to Mis-
% Van Zandt. The BRIDE and he
20 parents went from the Office of tn
10 Justice to the home of Mr.. and Mr.
, Ferdinand Spies, not far distant, ,an
,e remained there over night. TT
~ license has not been returned to II
r. county clerk as required by law.
III was issued only three weeks ag
CO however, and the thirty days allowt
n. for its return have not yet expiret
ne Justice Englehardt is authority f
OF the statement that the marriage W
I'd performed.
he Spies declines to speak of t
ne ne ceremony and Miss Van Zandt l
lat fuses to be interviewed, or even
nd be seen. Her father also declir
10. to talk but does not deny the fact
Mt, the marriage. Sheriff Matson I
I" pressed great surprise and tt
promptly SAID, "If this action v
taken for the purpose of compell
EN- me to consent to the visits OF N
oli- Van Zandt to the Jail, it is mist
ery en- course and will not prevail"
tai Opinions of leading ATTORNEYS 4
u nn the legality of marriage by pr
the vary somewhat. Nearly all Of
.nis s lawyers IN the city are of the bt
ing that it is illegal.